The Margarita Club
The ladies gathered around their table on the outdoor patio, the warm amber glow of twinkle lights casting a cozy charm over their Friday night ritual at The Border Foundry. The cool fall breeze swirled around them, rustling the leaves as they settled into their seats, the open-air setting perfect for catching up on the week’s events—and a little gossip.
As laughter subsided, the bartender approached, carefully balancing a tray of striking black margaritas. Each glass was rimmed with an artful mix of salt and sugar, topped with dark blackberries that seemed to glint under the twinkle lights like tiny charms. The Halloween vibe was unmistakable, drawing an admiring “Ooooh!” from the group.
The bartender set down the tray with a grin. “Ladies, your Black Magic Margaritas,” he announced, giving each glass a flourish as he served it. Around them, other tables bustled with guests, occasional snippets of laughter and clinking glasses rising into the evening air.
Lupita lifted her glass and inspected the blackberry garnish. “Oh, these are to die for!” she exclaimed, eyeing the drink almost reluctantly. “I almost feel bad drinking it.”
Cande chuckled, arching a brow as she held her glass up to the light. “I don’t feel bad at all! Cheers, amigas!”
Just then, Cori leaned forward, catching the bartender’s eye, her big, owl-like eyes gleaming mischievously. “Well, if these aren’t the best little trick-or-treats I’ve ever seen!” She took a dramatic sip, then gave the salt-sugar rim a slow, exaggerated lick. “Trick for you, treat for me!”
The waiter chuckled, tipping his head. “Careful, señora. With drinks like these, you might be feeling both the trick and the treat tomorrow.”
Their laughter rang out, mingling with the hum of the patio, and Margarita shook her head at Cori with a smirk. “You’re too much, Cori. Always stirring up trouble!”
“Someone’s got to keep things interesting,” Cori quipped, raising her glass high. “To tricks, treats, and drinks too good to resist!”
“Salud!” they all cheered, clinking their glasses in the golden light.
Margarita pulled her phone out, scrolling through a news alert with a roll of her eyes. “¡Híjole! The water boil notice finally ended, but the council’s still fighting about what to do. Did you hear about the City Council meeting on Monday? You’d think clean water would be common sense.”
Cori took a sip and set her glass down, grinning. “Please! Since when has Laredo politics ever made sense? Torres read private WhatsApp messages out loud at the meeting! Talk about a trick-or-treat surprise.” She let out her famous Jabba-the-Hutt laugh, practically shaking the table. “Busted.”
A few heads turned at her boisterous laugh, and a couple at the neighboring table exchanged amused glances.
Cande crossed her arms and smirked. “Reading messages out loud? Now that’s messy, even for them. It’s like high school drama with taxpayer dollars. Who needs Netflix when we have council meetings? ¡Qué bárbaros!”
Lupita shook her head, exasperated. “Exactly! But they’d rather argue about river parks and ‘Binational Projects’ than just give us clean water.”
As she spoke, a waiter passed by their table, carrying a tray piled high with sizzling empanadas and crispy taquitos, the air around them instantly filling with the tantalizing scent of melted cheese, savory meats, and fresh herbs. The ladies paused, momentarily distracted, as the delicious aroma drifted through the air, making stomachs rumble and mouths water.
Estella gave the tray a longing glance before taking a slow sip of her margarita, rolling her eyes as she refocused on the conversation. “You’re telling me. I’m all for a pretty park, but I’d rather be able to turn on my faucet without wondering if I need to boil what comes out. And even worse…what I shower in.”
Sofia leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “And then there’s Melissa Cigarroa calling ‘point of order,’ trying to put a stop to it. Bet she didn’t expect that group chat to be broadcasted. So much for keeping it private, huh?”
Cori leaned back with a satisfied grin. “Oh, honey, nothing’s private in Laredo politics! It’s all fair game if it keeps the city entertained. Personally, I’m thinking of attending the next council meeting with a bowl of popcorn.”
They burst into laughter, clinking their glasses as the patio lights twinkled above. At a nearby table, a couple paused to glance over, chuckling at their lively conversation.
Margarita lifted her glass with a smirk. “If the council keeps fighting like this, we’ll have to start boiling our margaritas next.”
Cande raised an eyebrow, her tone dry. “Well, if they’d put half that energy into the water lines instead of arguing, maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. It’s like they think we can drink art projects.”
Cori leaned in. “And don’t forget they want an $800 million bond with water parks?”
Sofia smirked. “Salud to the council members who actually want to fix the water situation and don’t want to waste millions on art. They’re the real MVPs.”
Margarita raised her glass, her eyes gleaming with shared exasperation. “To clean water, and to our council, for always keeping things…interesting. Heaven knows they give us enough material.”
With a final laugh, they all lifted their glasses. “Salud!” Their glasses clinked, and as Cori motioned to the server with a twirling finger for another round, the patio was filled with their laughter and the spirited voices of friends gathered in a city that never stopped giving them something to talk about.
Cande then suggested, “Let’s order a little something. That waiter who just passed by made my mouth water with that tray of delicious appetizers.”
Cori smirked, holding up a hand. “No, girl, let me show you what made my mouth water this week. Did you see the video that La Gordi Loca shared on her page?” She reached into her purse, pulling out her phone.
The ladies shook their heads, all curious.
Cori tapped through her notifications, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Hold on tight, amigas. Look at this papacito,” she said, pressing play.
They all leaned in as the video began, revealing a rugged man with a commanding presence. He stood tall, his broad shoulders and well-built frame accentuated by tactical gear. His stoic expression, neatly trimmed beard, and dirty blonde hair gave him a strong, no-nonsense look that hinted he was more than ready for action.
Lupita’s eyes widened, her mouth parting in awe. “Ay, Cori, you just made me sin.” She crossed herself, her cheeks pink.
Estella clutched her necklace, moving it side to side as if to fan herself. “Dios mío, is he from Laredo?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Oh, wow! That video got over 144,000 views.” Cori widened her eyes with a grin. “Guess I’m not the only one who thinks Mr. Tall, Tactical, and Tempting is worth a double-take!”
Cori burst into laughter, breaking the spell, and soon they all joined in, their laughter ringing out into the cool night air. The ladies leaned back, savoring their margaritas with a quiet smile, each lost in her own thoughts and silent appreciation.
Catch the next episode of The Margarita Club coming soon!
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